Online auction for slaughter cattle trialled

A Queensland livestock agency has trialled selling slaughter cattle online to see if there is enough competition for the concept.

In the past, only restocker and feeder cattle have been successfully sold using an online auction system, because it's hard to judge the carcase of individual animals out in the paddock.

But Landmark manager for Queensland, Brendan Wade, says under a new concept, meat processors bid on the majority of cattle and grid prices apply to any cattle that come in with different specifications.

"It's a new system and I think one that combines a couple of marketing options for people and gives them another avenue.

"It's a buyer friendly system, because we deliver the cattle to the processing plants who have the protection of the grids, so if the cattle are over or under-described, they fall into the appropriate grid category once they hang up.

"The buyers bid on their top sell, so if they bid on the cattle, on their top sell, then the whole grid moves with that price."

Mr Wade wants to continue to develop the concept and even trial it for sheep.